The Buffalo Bills could move on from a six-year veteran they signed this offseason.
Buffalo made some low-risk signings this offseason to add some depth to the roster. Yet, some of them aren’t guaranteed roster spots, and one of those players is Geno Stone.
Buffalo signed the veteran safety to a one-year deal to add some depth to the secondary. However, he is in a competition with Damar Hamlin for a roster spot, and The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia named him a cut candidate ahead of preseason games.
“Stone playing spot duty for Gardner-Johnson kept the door open for Damar Hamlin to get some playing time with the top unit until Gardner-Johnson returned, which means anything could happen for the 53-man roster. Cole Bishop, Gardner-Johnson, rookie Jalon Kilgore and special teams ace Sam Franklin Jr. are all roster locks,” Buscaglia wrote.
“However, would the Bills really keep six safeties to include both Stone and Hamlin? As with the defensive line and at outside linebacker, it might be one too many safeties to keep, and that spot could be used for depth elsewhere.”
If Stone gets cut, it means Hamlin beat him out, as Bishop, Gardner-Johnson and Kilgore are all locked into roster spots.
Stone is coming off a stellar year with the Cincinnati Bengals. He started all 17 games, recording 104 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 4 pass defenses.
Stone Explains Why He Signed With Bills
Buffalo signed Stone early in free agency to add some depth to the secondary.
After signing, Stone said it was an easy decision for him to sign with Buffalo.
“Talking to my agent, he’s always said the Bills are one of the better organizations to be with and he’s always raved about it,” Stone said after signing. “So, for me, it’s just an easy decision.”
Stone also believes that Jim Leonhard could bring out the best in him.
“They’re going to use me to my strengths, and that’s the main thing I want to do at this point in my career is playing to my strengths and limiting my weaknesses,” Stone said. “That’s why they brought me in: to go get the ball. So, that’s how I was envisioning myself. That’s how I see myself in a lot of place … It’s cool as someone coming in to hear that’s an emphasis, taking the ball away.”
Stone was a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Iowa by the Baltimore Ravens.
Gardner-Johnson Returns to Practice
There was a chance that both Stone and Hamlin could have made the roster when CJ Gardner-Johnson went down with an injury.
Yet, it was revealed to be a calf strain, and he returned to practice not even a week later.
“I feel like I’m 100% ready to go,” said Gardner-Johnson. “Health, as well, so it’s continue to trust the trainers and the coaches. … I’ve got a lot of trust in this training staff here, more than other places I’ve been. … (They’re) being really honest with me. This is the risk you take if you go back, these are the benefits if you do the plan and stuff like that.”
Gardner-Johnson is expected to start at safety opposite Cole Bishop.
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